Traveling to New York can be quite confusing for the New York tourist. Fortunately, New York’s public transit system is extremely efficient and can transport you wherever you need to go.
There are different types of trips depending on the destination and the time you have available for your trip. The New York subway is clearly the most popular, with New York water transportation and New York City buses.
1. Metro Card
Although you can pay with coins (not dollar bills) on the buses, you will need a Metro Card to get on the subway. You can buy them in kiosks or vending machines in stations; the NYC Official Information Center; the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn or the Grand Central Terminal; and many hotels. The standard fare across the metro and bus network on a Metro Card is $ 2.25, although a one-way ticket purchased from a machine costs $ 2.50. Free transfers between metro and buses are only available with a Metro Card (for bus to bus transfers in cash, see below). Up to four people can use an à la carte Metro Card, sold in denominations of $ 4.50 to $ 80.
If you put $ 10 or more on the card, you will receive a 7% bonus. However, if you plan to use the metro or buses often, an Unlimited Ride metro card is great. These cards are available in two denominations, available at station vending machines but not at kiosks: a seven-day pass ($ 29) and a 30-day pass ($ 104). All are good for unlimited trips during these periods, but you cannot share a card with your traveling companions.
2. Subway
Much cleaner and safer than 20 years ago, the city’s metro network is one of the largest and cheapest in the world, with a flat rate of $ 2.25. Trains run 24 hours a day. If you travel late at night, board the train from the off-peak waiting area, usually near the middle of the platform; it is safer than the ends of the platform, which are often less populated in the wee hours. Use the same common sense safety precautions in the metro as in any urban environment. Hold your bag with the opening in front of you, keep your wallet in a front pocket and don’t wear flashy jewelry. Levels of petty crime increase during the holidays.
Popular Visas
The stations most often bear the name of the street on which they are located. Entries are marked with a green and white globe (open 24 hours) or a red and white globe (limited hours). Many stations have separate entrances to the downtown and downtown platforms – look before you pay. Trains are identified by letters or numbers, color coded according to the line on which they run. Local trains stop at each station on the line; express trains only stop at major stations. You can view the current metro map on the MTA website. Otherwise, ask the MTA workers in the service booths for a free copy or refer to the enlarged metro maps posted at each metro station.
3. Taxis
The same 5-mile, 10-minute trip covering 25 miles per hour for the entire taxi ride would cost the basic fare of $ 2.50 plus 25 units at $ 0.50 each, or $ 12.50, for a total of $ 15.00. It is customary to tip the driver 10 to 20%. This adds $ 3 to the cabin rate, for a total of $ 18.
